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Flemish Region facts for kids

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Flemish Region

Vlaams Gewest
Flag of Flemish Region
Flag
Coat of arms of Flemish Region
Coat of arms
Anthem: De Vlaamse Leeuw
Location of Flemish Region
Country Belgium
Seat Brussels (but not part of the Flemish Region)
Area
 • Total 13,522 km2 (5,221 sq mi)
Population
 (1 January 2017)
 • Total 6,516,011
 • Density 481.882/km2 (1,248.07/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Ethnic group Flemings
 • Languages Dutch
ISO 3166 code BE-VLG
Celebration Day 11 July
Website www.flanders.be

The Flemish Region (pronounced Flem-ish) is a special part of Belgium, located in the northern area of the country. It is often simply called Flanders. The main language spoken here is Dutch, which some people also call Flemish.

Flanders is home to about 7 million people and is divided into 5 different areas called provinces. Even though its capital city is Brussels, Brussels itself is not part of the Flemish Region.

Belgium has three main regions. Flanders is one of them. The other two are Wallonia (also known as the Walloon Region) and the Brussels-Capital Region.

Flemish Region in Belgium
The territory of the Flemish Region within Belgium

What is the Flemish Region?

The Flemish Region is one of the three main areas that make up the country of Belgium. It is in the northern part of Belgium. This region has its own government and parliament, which means it can make many of its own rules and decisions.

How Big is Flanders?

The Flemish Region covers an area of about 13,522 square kilometers (which is about 5,221 square miles). This makes it a medium-sized region.

Who Lives in Flanders?

Around 7 million people live in the Flemish Region. Most of these people are called Flemings. The official language they speak is Dutch.

Government of Flanders

The Flemish Region has its own government, called the Flemish Government. This government is in charge of many things that affect the people living in Flanders.

The Flemish Parliament

The Flemish Parliament is where laws are made for the region. It is like the main decision-making body. Members of the parliament are elected by the people of Flanders.

The Minister-President

The leader of the Flemish Government is called the Minister-President. This person is like the head of the region's government. From 2014 to 2019, the Minister-President was Geert Bourgeois.

Important Dates

The Flemish Region was officially established in the year 1286. Every year, on July 11, people in Flanders celebrate the Day of the Flemish Community. This is a special day for the region.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Región Flamenca para niños

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